The 2010 version of the West Chester University Golden Rams lacrosse team is off to another fast start as they have won their first three games and have outscored their opponents 63-23 in those games. Two years removed from a national championship, the Golden Rams are working hard to continue the success they’ve had over the past decade under head coach Ginny Martino.In their season opener on March 6, No. 6 West Chester (3-0) came away with a hard fought 14-12 victory over Pfeiffer University in North Carolina. Juniors Jackie Hoover and Claire Grimwood each recorded hat tricks in the win.
The Golden Rams trailed 8-4 late in the second half before getting goals from Hoover and sophomore Erin Oczkowski right before halftime. In the second half, Pfeiffer scored first before West Chester took control of the game.
Trailing by one goal with less than ten minutes remaining in the game, Grimwood tied the game for the fourth time with an unassisted goal with 9:18 left. Less than a minute later, Grimwood gave the Golden Rams their first lead of the game with her third goal of the game off an assist from junior Shannon Hayes.
West Chester added insurance two minutes later as sophomore Alyssa Gallen scored the final goal of the game. Senior Nicole Haines and Oczkowski each scored twice in the game. Sophomore goalkeeper MacKenzie O’Keefe made nine saves in her first collegiate start.
On March 10, the Golden Rams dominated in a 24-5 victory over St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College in North Carolina. Grimwood continued her strong start to the season as she scored four goals to lead West Chester.
At halftime, the Golden Rams led 14-1 and over the course of the first 40 minutes, scored 19 of the first 20 goals. Freshman midfielder Lauren Glassey also scored four goals as 10 players registered a goal for West Chester.
Junior attacker Julia Walsh had a hat trick and dished out two assists in the victory. Freshman attacker Nicole Pyle recorded her first career hat trick, while Hayes had five assists in the game. Haines added two goals and an assist, while junior Brittany Moore and Gallen also scored two goals apiece. In her first career start in goal, freshman Kelly Martin made five saves to get the win.
On March 17, in their PSAC East opener, the Golden Rams jumped out to an early lead to pull away from rival Kutztown University in a 25-6 rout. West Chester scored eight goals in the first 10 minutes of action to take control of the game early.
Haines, Grimwood and Hoover scored two goals apiece in that span to help the hosts get going early. The Golden Rams held a 15-2 halftime lead as they never allowed the Golden Bears to get into the game.
Junior attacker Devon Lotkowski scored four goals in the second half while recording an assist on another goal. Hayes finished the game with two goals and four assists. West Chester had 13 different players score a goal in the overall team victory. Hoover, Pyle and Haines each recorded hat tricks. Junior Kelsey McGoldrick scored one goal and recorded three assists in the win.
Martin recorded her second consecutive victory as she started and played the first half. O’Keefe played in the second half.
This week, the Golden Rams host Shippensburg University in another PSAC East matchup on Monday at 4 p.m. On Thursday, West Chester travels to Bloomsburg University to battle the Huskies at 4 p.m. in another division game. During the weekend, the Golden Rams host Indiana University (Pa.) and Rollins on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
LJ Harrell is a fourth-year student majoring in Marketing. He can be reached at LH639694@wcupa.edu.